Golf practice mechanism



y 1941- H. QRACHENB'ERG 51M. 2,240,691

' GOLF PRACTICE MECHANISM Filed April 27, 1959 Sheets-Sheet =1 May 6,1941, H. DRACHENBERG. ETAL 2,24 0, 691- GOLF PRACTICE MECHANISM FiledApril 27.. 1939 2 Shets-Sheet 2 Patented May 6, 1941 GOLF PRACTICEMECHANISM Harry Drachenberg and William Schwab, Cincinnati, OhioApplication April 27, 1939, Serial No. 270,326

8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in golf practice devices of thattype wherein a ball is carried by a mechanism of such a character thatthe results of the contact by a club against the ball will be recorded,and the recording mechanism subsequently released and the operatingparts returned to their normal position for further practice efforts.

More specifically the invention includes a rotating body having aprojection carrying a practice ball, with governor mechanism soconstructed and arranged that the result of the blow against thepractice ball will be transferred through such governor mechanism to asuitable registering mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide a registering mechanismwhich is entirely free of easily destructable parts, and whichregistering mechanism when actuated will retain its proper indicationuntil released by manual means, which latter simultaneously retards themovement of other movable parts, thus by a single actuation returningthe assembly to normal position for further practice shots.

More specifically, the invention includes a practice ball mounted on arotating arm, the latter being properly weighted and including a fibertrack functioning as a brake element, and a governor mechanism operatedby the rotation of the arm and in turn actuating indicating mechanism.In addition the invention includes a release for the registeringmechanism, which release cooperates with the fiber track to brake themovement of the rotating arm whereby the parts will automatically returnto their normal position.

Other objects will more clearly hereinafter appear by reference to theaccompanying drawings forming a part of the specification. and whereinlike characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views in which- Fig. l is a vertical longitudinal section.

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view with parts in section to show the arrangementof the indicator mechanism.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view of the indicator mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevation of the indicator mechanism, and

Fig. 6 is a side elevation showing the release mechanism and thesupporting bracket.

Referring now to the drawings reference character I indicates a baseprovided with a centrally formed raceway 2 and a vertical shaft 3, thelatter being fixed to the base. Adjacent the vertical shaft 3 are thebearings 4 which are confined by and coact with the bottom face of thehub portion 5 of the rotating arm 6. A depending flange 1 confines theballs against lateral movement and a bearing ring 8 fixed about theshaft 3 complete the bearing assembly. A fiber disk 9 is suitablyfastened to the rotating arm 6 and at a suitable point on this fiberdisk there may be placed a weight H] of proper form and material toprovide the essential balance to facilitate the free rotation of the arm6 on the bearings 4. Extending upwardly from the central portion of thearm 6 is the hub II which encircles the shaft 3, this hub being providedwith spaced ears I 2 at its upper end to accommodate the pivoted weightsl4 forming the governor elements. These governor elements I! include theweighted lower ends l5 and curved angular arms l6 which latter reactagainst the vertical sliding plate or disk [1. The plate l1 byvirtue ofthe splined connection formed by the key and slot [8 and I9 is mountedfor free vertical movement on the shaft 3 within the range of themovement of the governor arm 16.

Extending from the peripheral edge of the disk or plate I 1 is an offsetextension I8 which is connected to and operates the rack 19'. The rackI9 is restricted to a vertical movement by virtue of the hanger 20carried by the bracket 2|. This hanger 20 is of suitable form to act asa guide during the vertical movement of the rack and the rack issupported for vertical sliding movement by virtue of the weighted guides22 which are centrally slotted at 23 to freely slide on the hanger 20.

The front walls of the guide weight 22 are slotted to receive invertical position the rack l9, which latter may be secured to theseparts in any desirable manner to provide the essential rigidity. By thussupporting the rack for vertical movement by use of the weighted guides22, it will be apparent that this rack will normally have a tendency toremain in its lowermost position on the hanger 20 and thus the indicator25 which is geared with the rack I 9 is also normally returned to itsnormal predetermined position. The indicator disk 25 which may be ofwood, metal or other suitable material and which contains on itsperipheral edge the proper indicating data is provided with a driven fiton the shaft 26, the latter being formed adjacent one end with thepinion 26' which meshes with the rack I 9 heretofore mentioned. Theshaft 26 has reduced extremities 21 which are properly mounted inbearings 28 formed in the spaced hangers 29 and 353 depending from thebracket 2!.

The bracket 2| includes a hanger 3| which extends downwardly to a pointslightly above a horizontal line tangent to the lower face of the hub 32forming a part of the indicator wheel 25, and from the bottom face ofthis hanger 3| there is removably secured a spring 33 properly securedin position as by the screw 34. The spring 33 is of any desiredconstruction and extends laterally to a position for frictionalengagement with the peripheral face of the hub or brake drum 32comprising a portion of the indicator wheel 25 as heretofore stated. 7

At a point diametrically positioned from the depending hanger 35supporting the brake spring 33, is a depending hanger 35 which is adepending portion of the bracket 2!. The hanger 35 has a lateralextending perforated extremity 36 through which extends the shaft 31',the upper end of which is'threaded into the button 38. The

button 38 projects through an opening in the dome or casing 3s and isprovided with lateral projections' iil and 4!, the upper faces of whichare curved to conform to the curvature of the inner face of the casingwall 38, to coact therewith to limit the upper movement of the shaft 3'1under the expansion of the spring 42 interposed between the lower faceof the button 38 and the upper face of the offset projection 36 of thehanger 35; The lower end of the shaft 3'! extends through the opening inthe projection 35 and is confined against undesirable movement by thewasher 43 fixed to the shaft 31 by means of the transverse pin Mextending through these parts. The lower end of the shaft 31 isbifurcated to provide spaced arms 65 through which the shaft 51 extendsand upon which latter there is mounted the rubber caster or brake wheel48. The brake wheel 43 upon pressure being applied to the button 38engages .the fiber disk 9 and retards the rotation of the same. Thisretarding of the rotation of disk 9 is immediately subsequent to orsimultaneous with the release of the brake spring 33 from engagementwith the indicating mechanism i. e., after taking the reading on theindicator 25, the button 33 is pressed by the foot or otherwise, whichdisengages the brake spring 33 from the indicating mechanism and permitsit to reset at Zero, and the brake-wheel 48 due to the actuation of thesame element 38 engages and stops the rotation of the fiber disk 9 andits connected 1 parts. It will be noted that the laterally extendingbrake spring 33 supported by the depending arm 3! projects from itssupport into contact with the brake wheel of drum 32 of the indicatorwheel and beneath the washer t3, the outer extremity '49 being bentdownwardly at a suitable angle as indicated in Figures 2 and 6.

V The bracket supporting the various parts and from which the hangers29, 30,, 3! and 35 depend includes a body portion 58 with the essentialradiating arms carrying the depending hanger, and a hub portion 5|. Theopening through theliub portion is of such diameter as to receive i theupper end of the verticalshaft 3 and this hub is fixed to the upper endof the shaft by the transverse lock pin 52 which extends thereth-rough.Spaced notches 53 are formed in the upper face of the 'hub 5! to receivethe lugs 55 of the dome 39. A screw including an enlarged screw head andthe reduced threaded portion 5'? extends into the upper end of thevertical shaft 3 through a central opening in the dome and centers andlocks these parts against movement.

At the outer extremity of the arm 6 there is formed a vertical openingin which is secured the threaded stud 5!) locked in position by the pinEl extending through the stud and into the arm hub portion 52. This stud58 is threaded throughout its full length above the hub 62 and hasthreaded thereon the internally threaded tube 63, which latter isprovided with the knurled thumb nut 64 whereby this tube 63 may beVertically adjusted on the stud iii to elevate the ball 655. Thepractice ball 65 is formed of suitable material and has incorporated inits structure the metal sleeve 6% of such diameter as to freely receivethe sleeve 63 and to rotate thereon during impact in practice. The tube66 is formed with upper outwardly flared portions 61 which may be moldedor otherwise formed in the ball body 55 and thus a compact, strong anddurable structure is provided.

What we claim is:

1. In a golf practice device, a base member, a vertical shaft fixed tothe base, a rotating arm mounted on said shaft, a ball member rotatablymounted on the outer end of said arm, a friction element on said arm,centrifugally shiftable members on said arm, a disk splined on saidshaft and engaging said centrifugally actuated members for movementtherewith, an indicator operated by said splined disk, spring means forretaining said indicator in adjusted position, and means for releasingsaid spring means from engagement with said indicator and simultaneouslyeffecting a braking action on said friction element to retard therotation of said arm.

2. The substance of claim 1 characterized in that the means forreleasing said spring from engagement with the indicator andsimultaneously effecting a braking action on the friction element toretard the rotation on the arm includes a plunger normally retained outof engagement with the friction element by means of a spring and havingat its lower extremity a freely rotating wheel. which engages thefriction element.

3. The substance of claim 1 characterized in that the means forreleasing the spring fromv the indicator and simultaneously effectingbraking action on the friction element is provided with a lateralprojecting portion which engages the spring means during its downwardmovement for engagement with the friction element.

4. In a golf practice device, a base member provided with a verticalfixed shaft, a rotating arm mounted on said shaft, a ball member mountedon the outer end of said arm, a circular friction element positionedabout the shaft and fixed to said arm, a weight mounted'on the frictionelement at a point diametrically opposite the ball member, centrifugaliyoperated members mounted on said arm, a disk splined on said shaft foroperative engagement with said centrifugal members, a rack fixed to saiddisk, an indicating drum including a gear in mesh with said rack, brakemeans normally engaging said indicator member, a brake element forengaging said circular friction element to retard the rotation of saidshaft, operating means for said brake element, and means for releasingsaid indicator brake means upon actuation of said brake operating means.

5. In a golf practice device, a base member, a

vertical shaft fixed to the base member, a rotating arm mounted on saidshaft, a ball member rotatably mounted on the outer end of said arm, afriction element on said arm, means vertically shiftable by the rotationof said arm, a splined element on said shaft operated by said shiftablemeans, a rack fixed to the splined element and movable therewith, abracket having a plurality of depending arms fixed to the upper end ofsaid vertical shaft, an indicator wheel element including a hub and apinion supported by certain of the depending arms, said rack membernormally engaging the pinion to shift said indicator mechanism, aresilient brake element fixed to one of the depending arms and engagingthe hub of said indicator to retain said indicator in adjusted position,a brake plunger for engaging the friction element on said arm to retardthe rotation of said arm, said brake plunger being constructed andarranged to release the resilient brake arm from engagement with theindicator mechanism upon its engagement with the friction element onsaid arm.

6. In a golf practice device, a base member, a vertical shaft fixed tothe base, a rotating arm mounted on said shaft, a friction element onthe arm, centrifugally shiftable members on said arm, a disk splined onsaid shaft and engaging said centrifugally actuated members for movementtherewith, a bracket member fixed to the upper end of said verticalshaft and including a plurality of depending supports, an indicatorrotatably mounted between a pair of depending supports and including ahub portion and a gear, a rack fixed to said splined disk and normallymeshing with said gear to actuate said indicator, a resilient spring armsecured to one of said depending supports and extending beyond andengaging the hub of the indicator to retard the movement of the same, aplunger carried by one 1 of said depending supports and normallyretained in upper position by means of a spring, and said plungerincluding a projecting portion and a braking element, said projectingelement overlying the spring arm 'to release the same from itsengagement with the indicator hub upon downward movement of the plungerfor braking engagement with the friction element on said arm.

7. The substance of claim 6 characterized in that the supporting bracketwhich includes the depending supports is enclosed by a spherical domeand the outer wall of the bracket is curved to conform to and snuglyengage the inner face of the dome,

8. In a golf practice device, a base member, a vertical shaft fixed tothe base, a rotating arm mounted on the shaft including a hub portion, aball member rotatably mounted on the outer end of the arm, a frictionelement on said arm, centrifugally shiftable members carried by the hubof said rotating arm, a disk splined on the shaft above said arm andengaging the centrifugally actuated members for movement therewith, arack fixed to said disk, weight elements fixed to said rack, asupporting bracket fixed to the upper end of the vertical shaft andincluding depending arms, an indicator rotatably supported by a pair ofsaid arms, said indicator including an indicating surface, a brakesurface, and a gear, said gear being normally in mesh with said rack foroperation thereby upon movement of the splined disk, means for retardingthe rotation of the indicator and retaining same in adjusted position,and means for engaging the friction element on said arm to retardrotation of the latter, said means including a release for the indicatorretarding mechanism.

HARRY DRACHENBERG. WILLIAM SCHWAB.

